The Action Alliance (AA) on Monday threatened to file orders 48 and 49 against the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu over his refusal to honour the Supreme Court judgment which affirmed the suspension and subsequent expulsion of Mr Kenneth Udeze from the party.
The party expressed worry on the refusal of INEC to upload the name of its national chairman, Dr Adekunle Rufai Omoaje on its portal and website, saying that the inability of the INEC to give proper recognition to Omoaje is a flagrant disobedience to court judgments.
Rising from a crucial meeting of the forum of state chairmen of the party held at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja, the chairmen of the party across the states of the federation bemoaned the actions of the INEC chairman, alleging that his bias on issues affecting the party was not in doubt.
In a communique issued at the end of the meeting, the party recalled that different courts including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court sitting in Abuja, the Abuja division of the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court held that Udeze is not a member of the party.
The communique signed by the Chairman, forum of State chairmen of the party who is also the Rivers State chairman, Hon Nwigbarto Dumbari and secretary of the forum, Mrs Omotosho Rashidat Ololade expressed worry on the disposition of the INEC chairman to Udeze who is an expelled member of the party together with members of his team, especially one Vernibe James, also an expelled member of the party.
The party noted that for INEC to give recognition to both Udeze and Vernibe who have long been expelled from the party and whose case the Supreme Court had decided was an aberation on the part of INEC.
The Action Alliance leaders recalled that the Supreme Court had in a suit marked SC/1488/2022 affirmed that Udeze is not a member of the Action Alliance, and therefore expressed dismay on how a non member of the party can serve as the national chairman of the party.
The party also noted that INEC had in a letter dated 6th March, 2024 confirmed that Udeze is not a member of the party and expressed disappointment on the sudden change of narrative by INEC.
According to the state chairmen of the party Udeze did not emerge from any national convention of the party, unlike Omoaje who was elected the national chairman of the party at the elective national convention of the party held at the Obasanjo Presidential library, Abeokuta in Ogun State, which was attended by INEC representatives, security operatives and adequately covered by the media.
The party wondered why INEC has refused to recognize Omoaje as the national chairman of the party, saying that it will not hesitate to take drastic actions against the commission if it fails to do the right thing henceforth.
